Innholdsfortegnelse for 05-Apr-2021 i Woman's Own

‘I WANTED TO FOCUS ON MY BUSINESS ’ Loose Women viewers were shocked at the end of 2020 when Andrea McLean, 51, suddenly announced that she was leaving the show after 13 years to focus on her and husband Nick Feeney’s business, This Girl Is On Fire. ‘The pandemic changed everything in terms of my attitude,’ she said. ‘I’d always wanted to do something like [This Girl Is On Fire] but I was always waiting for the right time. But there’s no such thing as a right time, so why not just jump and hope it works.’ ‘I’M DISCOVERING WHAT HOME LIFE IS LIKE’ Nick Hewer, 77, recently announced he was stepping down from Countdown after 10 years and is being replaced by Anne Robinson later this year. Now, the…

Scratching my eczema until I bleed Q As a child I had eczema, and it seems to be coming back on my arms. I think I am about to lose my job and have been so stressed about family finances. I wake at night having made myself bleed as I’ve been scratching so badly. I had steroid creams when I was younger. Can I buy these over the counter? A You can buy hydrocortisone at pharmacies, but if you need something stronger, you will need a prescription. Have a chat with your chemist and also ask for some emollient to keep the skin hydrated. If you can, put plenty on and wrap the arms with cling film to allow it to soak in. Keep your fingernails very short and you…

Retro Luxe Jewel Rustic…

BUY IT Make it Barilla Penne Rigate 500g (Morrisons) ROASTED VEG AND CHICKEN PASTA BAKE Serves You will need ✽ 3 mixed peppers, chopped ✽ 1 aubergine ✽ 1 courgette, chopped ✽ 2 chicken breasts, cut in chunks ✽ 2tbsp garlic oil ✽ 300g penne pasta ✽ 2 x 340g jars tomato and basil pasta sauce ✽ Handful fresh basil leaves ✽ 125g mozzarella, torn into pieces How to do it 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Toss the peppers, aubergine, courgette and chicken in the garlic oil and tip into a roasting tin. Roast for 20 mins until just cooked and lightly charred. 2 Cook the pasta for 8 mins until just tender. Drain and return to the pan, then stir through the roasted vegetables and chicken,…

‘Some dogs need more help than others’ Paul O’Grady returns for a new series of For the Love of Dogs this week, and as soon as he arrives at Battersea, the London-based rescue centre for dogs and cats, he’s met by a three-month-old spaniel cross called Milo. ‘Milo was given up by his owner and he’s covered from head to toe in itchy mites,’ explains Paul. ‘The last 12 months have been a strange old time and there have been quite a few surprises at Battersea, too, particularly the amount of puppies arriving.’ After vet Clare gives Milo medication to rid him of the nasty bugs and his patchy fur begins to grow back, the staff believe that he’ll easily find a new loving home. However, it might not be…

Celeb News Susanna’s job fears With Good Morning Britain’s viewing figures in a steady decline since Piers Morgan sensationally quit, Woman’s Own can reveal Susanna Reid is, understandably, feeling worried about the situation. It was reported that the ITV show’s overall audience plunged by 40% in just a week after 55-year-old Piers’ exit. And a source tells us, ‘Susanna and Piers were a team, so she’s essentially been left alone. Of course, such a big drop in viewers has her worried for the future at GMB – it would scare anyone. Anything could happen.’ But, as Susanna, 50, said in her post-Piers statement, the show must go on, and we’re told – concerns over viewing figures aside – she’s enjoying stepping out of his shadow. Our insider says,…

Family is FAMILY Harry and William need reminding that life is too short for feuds Picture the predicament. You have a choice between only ever seeing and talking to either your partner or your only sibling again. Your lover or your brother? Your mister or your sister? This is the very conundrum facing royal brothers William and Harry. And make no mistake – the gulf between them is genuinely huge, wounds have been inflicted that will never be healed. ‘Life’s too short for turning a drama into crisis’ What would their mother say? Her greatest joy was that each of her sons would always have the other to guide them through the rigours of palace life. What is happening now would break her heart. As, I’m pretty sure, that it…

‘Mike’s death consumed me for years’ Rolling over in the hotel bed, I could feel the excitement rushing through me as I thought about the day ahead – my wedding day. It was August 2020 and my fiancé, Eric, then 33, and I had been together for two years and I couldn’t wait to become his wife. After all the heartache I’d suffered in the years before meeting Eric, I deserved some happiness and, as I lay in bed thinking about our future, I was beaming. But  no sooner had I opened my eyes than the hotel phone began to ring. As my friend answered, I assumed it would be one of my bridesmaids checking on the plan for the morning. But when my friend  passed me the phone and…

Q Over the past year, I have been working from home and spending a lot more time at my computer. It seems to have made my eyes feel very dry and uncomfortable. Is that possible? A Interestingly, we blink less frequently when sitting in front of a screen, which can lead to dry eyes. Try consciously blinking every 15 minutes and get into the habit of practising the 20:20:20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds to alleviate eye strain. If you’re still struggling with dry eyes, speak to your pharmacist about artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated.…

Will I ever enjoy a sexual relationship? Q I’ve had two long-term partners and I’ve never enjoyed sex with them. My first ex was too rough and never listened when I wanted him to go slower, and the other was cold. Sex was something we just did and we rarely hugged or kissed. At 40, I’m beginning to feel a sexual relationship isn’t for me, which makes me sad. Name and address withheld A It’s not that sex isn’t for you, but that you haven’t found the right partner for you yet. Your two ex-partners were selfish and were more into fulfilling their needs than thinking about you. As you say, you know what works for you and it’s intimate, loving sex, with someone who cares about you as much…

If you think the four-day Easter weekend is a dietary nightmare, think again. Not only are some of the foods we traditionally eat at this time of year full of nutrients, but even chocolate can have its health benefits – and as more than 80 million Easter eggs are sold in the UK every year, that’s just as well! These experts share the benefits of our favourite bank-holiday weekend foods, so you can enjoy yourself guilt-free. Hot cross buns They’re never going to be the healthiest of treats, thanks to their sugar and fat content. But if you want to enjoy a hot cross bun, you can make it slightly healthier, says Alex White, nutrition scientist from the British Nutrition Foundation. ‘Opt for a wholemeal version to help boost your…

Favourite stars in future TV projects Bhavna Limbachia When Inside No. 9 returns to BBC2, the former Coronation Street actor will be among the stars joining Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith in a new collection of darkly comic tales. Other guest stars include Adrian Dunbar and Derek Jacobi. Jason Hughes Look out for the former This Life and Midsomer Murders actor in BBC1’s Welsh thriller The Pact, which involves five friends, a sudden death and a web of lies. The cast of the gripping six-parter also includes ex Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh.…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr You’re planning something hush-hush for someone close. Only when all is in place can you tell people, or it won’t be a surprise! Think carefully about who to invite. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May Everyone recognises that your demeanour now is without a hint of doubt. Your new-found confidence doesn’t go unnoticed at work, and it’s important to form a career plan. Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun You might have to choose between two ways of handling a situation. Don’t assume the old way is the best solution. Sometimes you need to think outside of the box. Cancer 21 Jun – 22 Jul Whatever you’re doing, keep going! You may be sidetracked from your initial goals by an interruption but don’t let…

The presenter on feeling fabulous and frisky at 50, as well as her special friendship with Piers Morgan The Big 5-0! How do you feel? Any different?! I just feel lucky to still be here, to still be healthy and to have my wonderful family around me. I know that might sound like a cliché, but it really is true. I consider myself lucky to be following incredible women like Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston, who have celebrated their 50th year by being grateful for their success, happy with their lives and still looking hot! I wish I’d posed nude on the top tier of a birthday cake at my 50th. That’s the spirit! It was fun getting on top of that cake! I don’t believe in the…

GO WEST! The lads are back for a weekend of Westlife, playing at Wembley Stadium on 21 and 22 August. ‘It’s the most famous stadium in the world and we’ve wanted to play it our whole career,’ says band member Shane Filan. ‘It feels like a new start. Our children are going to be at Wembley. It’s amazing for them.’ The boys have 10 kids between them, so it’s guaranteed to be a family affair. EUROBOYS! It’s great that the Eurovision Song Contest is going ahead in Holland in May. The destination for my GMB crew will be Rotterdam, if we can travel. James Newman is back for the UK after last year’s event was cancelled and he’s bringing a banger of a track with Embers. Let’s hope a drop…

‘It was supposed to be a fresh start’ Lockdown birthdays aren’t fun for anyone, but spare a thought for Phillip Schofield, who turns 59 in a matter of days and will likely be spending it alone. It’s been a roller-coaster ride of a year for Phillip, who – just weeks before the world went into lockdown because of the global pandemic – came out as gay, having been married to his wife Stephanie for 27 years. While this won’t be Phil’s first birthday since the big announcement last February, it’s the first milestone he’ll mark while living alone in his new bachelor pad in London. And sources tell us that he’s understandably feeling heavy-hearted about it. MOVING ON After making the admission that he is gay live on This Morning…

It’s estimated that the ‘Wagatha Christie’ legal row rumbling on between footy wives Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy has already cost the pair £1 million between them. And this is before it even gets to a full trial. In case you’ve forgotten, this is over the playground-style spat where Wayne’s missus is accusing Jamie’s missus of leaking stories about her. Jeez, like anyone outside their spoilt, pampered worlds gives a flying tackle. Especially in the middle of a pandemic, where millions of us will end up without jobs. These two don’t need expensive lawyers. They need their silly, empty heads banging together. And I’ll do that for free! What’s your opinion? Tell Dawn on Twitter @DawnNeesom…

Mortified that I may have an STI Q My husband has been having an affair and now he’s told me he’s caught herpes. I’m devastated. I have no symptoms, but he says I should see our GP. We live in a small village and I can’t bear the thought of people knowing. Do I need to go? A I’m afraid you should get a full sexual health check-up. All the staff at your surgery are bound by rules of confidentiality, but you can go to any sexual health clinic without having a referral. Go to nhs.uk, type sexual health clinic into the search engine, then type any postcode into the web page for nearby clinics.…

1 READ HOW TO OWN THE ROOM BY VIV GROSKOP. This book (£12.99, Transworld Publishers Ltd), is a really useful guide to finding your confidence to speak up, whether in a relationship or at work. 2 PUSH YOURSELF TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. This will help you to see you can do and be more than you currently believe. By doing hard things, which push you out of your comfort zone, your confidence will soon grow. 3 MOVE OUT OF AUTOPILOT. By this I mean, train yourself to think positively. Come up with five positive thoughts to counter every negative one you have.…

Agatha & Poirot: Partners in Crime, ITV Celebrating 100 years since the first appearance of detective Hercule Poirot, Richard E Grant presents this documentary exploring the history of the Belgian sleuth and the life of his creator Agatha Christie, with contributions from Marcus Wareing and Stephen Fry. Intruder, Channel 5 This four-part thriller follows couple Rebecca (Elaine Cassidy) and Sam (Tom Meeten) whose lives are shattered after a break-in at their home by two local teens. Sally Lindsay stars as Family Liaison Officer Bailey, who becomes embroiled in the ensuing investigation. Louis Theroux: The Cult of Joe Exotic, BBC2 Ten years after meeting Joe Exotic in his 2011 documentary America’s Most Dangerous Pets, Louis heads to the US to revisit the story of the ‘Tiger King’, who’s since been jailed…